Acing the AP® Gov Exam: FRQ #3

Perhaps you heard of that Supreme Court decision handed down last year, where citizens and an interest group challenged a government-run World War I memorial in the form of a cross, as a violation of the establishment clause. The memorial stands at a busy intersection in Bladensburg, Maryland, and is the site of occasional ceremonies for veterans.

This case, American Legion v. American Humanist Association, is the focal point of my FRQ #3 example that I walk through in the download below. In this lesson, I discuss key strategies and tips for students as they think about how to approach FRQ #3. I also include a rubric for grading the American Legion FRQ example. My hope is that students can walk away from this lesson feeling more confident and prepared to tackle this part of the AP® exam.

Also – in case you missed it, check out this video where I discuss tips and tricks for FRQs #1 and #2 with reviewer Brian Stevens.

David Wolfford teaches Advanced Placement^® U.S. Government and Politics at Mariemont High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has served as an AP^® Reader. He has a B.A. in Secondary Education and an M.A. in Constitutional and Legal History, both from the University of Kentucky. He has conducted historical research projects on school desegregation and American political history. David has published in historical journals, such as Ohio Valley History and Kentucky Humanities. He has written on government, politics, and campaigns for national magazines and Cincinnati newspapers. He is a James Madison Fellow, a National Board-certified teacher, and a regular contributor to Social Education. David is editor of By George: Articles from the Ashland Daily Independent (Jesse Stuart Foundation) and editor of Ohio Social Studies Review.

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